Airport Doesn't Fly Quite As High

A survey of travelers has ranked Orlando International Airport best in the world for efficiency and check-in courtesy, but overall the airport dropped to seventh place, down three spots from last year's ranking.

Orlando, last year the top U.S. airport in the annual rankings by the International Air Transport Association, fell to second behind Cincinnati, which was ranked first among U.S. airports and sixth in the world.

The association, based in Geneva, Switzerland, surveyed 55,000 travelers in 54 airports around the world - up from 43 airports last year. They were asked to rank the airports based on 23 criteria, including signs, shopping, restaurants, speed of bag handling and efficiency.

Singapore's Changi airport was ranked first overall, followed by Britain's Manchester, which was ranked first in 1996.

Cincinnati was ranked first in friendliness of airport staff, restaurant facilities and ease of check-in.

Bob Bullock, executive director of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, noted that Orlando International's ranking in the past was hurt by the airport's lack of baggage carts, one of the elements surveyed.

Rental carts were installed at Orlando International in December but many of the travelers surveyed likely hadn't been in Orlando since the carts became available, Bullock said.

''They may be basing their perception on an experience they had before our baggage carts were available,'' Bullock said.

The airport also recently opened some new restaurants and shops, including the world's first microbrewery in an airport.

''We're very pleased with the near-term improvements we're making, and we think we've positioned ourselves well to win again,'' Bullock said.

The high marks for courtesy and efficiency were expected because the airport always is ranked highly in those categories, Bullock said.